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eirill's review against another edition
5.0
James Baldwin is such a good writer. He was able to portray every scene and every feeling of this book with so much depth. I usually don't enjoy books that much if I dislike most of its characters, but somehow that didn’t really matter in Giovanni’s room. All the characters' faults were well depicted and very realistic for their situation. I hated the sexism, but it felt like a natural consequence from living during such sexist and homophobic times. I thought the internalised homophobia was very well portrayed. Especially how David was so affected by shame in every interaction with Giovanni, that he couldn’t admit his feelings until everything between them was over. The similarity between the state of Giovanni’s room and the state of their relationship was a nice addition; it being hidden away, messy and always somewhat broken.
theuncultured's review against another edition
3.0
This didn't live up to its reputation for me. I wasn't too keen on the way it was written and didn't care much for the characters. In fact, I found the majority to be vapid and uninteresting. I wish the prose made up for its lack of depth, but it didn't, and I found myself unable to give it a lot of thought. One thing I can say for it, though, is that Baldwin, somehow, manages to capture that strong aftertaste of doing something with your body that your mind doesn't necessarily understand or approve of, and the inevitable struggle you endure with your own senses. I'm sure that if you call yourself human you will understand that feeling. It's for that reason I offer this one a dumb 3 stars. It's a decent story and I'm more let down by the writing than anything else. Also, to hell with Paris.
ludo_ke's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a devastatingly beautiful story that was beyond poetic in its nature. I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about the nuances surrounding his depictions of love within this novel. This book was just so tender and heartbreaking.
This book had exceeded all my expectations and it was honestly beyond riveting. Furthermore, I just wanted to note how well-crafted the dialogue sequences were and how vivid each moment felt. I was completely immersed into each scene and there were numerous passages that had deeply moved me. I would love to revisit this novel in the future but I would need to reflect on this piece a bit more before returning.
anaveragedork's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jacicailyn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
carlyq05's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written. David’s character is amazingly portrayed despite how frustrating and even “evil” as a person he is. His constant coping of escaping his emotions comments on society’s broader view of masculinity, Baldwin constantly asks the reader in this book, what does it mean to be a man? What is masculinity? And why, is it so often linked to heterosexuality? But also, why does heterosexuality mean disrespect towards women? David and Giovanni both insult, and disrespect women, why? Because that’s what it means to be a man? David uses women to prove his manhood, hurting not only the people around him, but himself. His desire to leave Paris, is to leave Giovanni. Because he does not want to think of him. If he is no longer in proximity, it is easier to distract himself from the growing love and indulgence he has for Giovanni. But distance does not stop the brain, nor could it stop the heart. It just helps distract. Helps control the constant guessing of “what could i be doing instead?” Leaving takes away the possibility of anything. As if you’re in two completely different places, you can’t do anything about it anyways. So what happens when they are in the same place again? It’s heartbreaking, it’s genuine, it’s hard to escape how you feel when they’re right in front of you.
Baldwin chooses to focus solely on LGBTQ+ commentary, making his main characters white, well he actually doesn’t mention the race. But because David is blonde, people assume he is white. Same with Giovanni being Italian. But really it’s left up to interpretation, as race is not apart of the story. He faced much criticism by other members of the Black community saying he was less black because he was gay, so in making his book race-less it allows him to focus on one issue. Baldwin has other books about race, but this is not that despite there being obvious parallels and notes on oppression. I honestly did not expect that when picking up this book and made the assumption that it would have at least some commentary on Black Americans. You could definitely choose to read it with that lens in mind, but I do not believe that was what was intended.
I also think Baldwin provided a great, honest depiction of love. It depicts the tragedy, the messiness, the heartbreak, and the overall complexity of love. And of falling in love with people who cannot fully give you themselves and the lies they share to make themselves feel more comfortable in their own bodies. The things people tell you to fit into their lie, their made up version of themselves so they don’t have to deal with the shame of accepting who they truly are. But in doing so, it only causes harm to not only others, but themselves. David hurts everyone around him, hurting himself in the end.
Baldwin chooses to focus solely on LGBTQ+ commentary, making his main characters white, well he actually doesn’t mention the race. But because David is blonde, people assume he is white. Same with Giovanni being Italian. But really it’s left up to interpretation, as race is not apart of the story. He faced much criticism by other members of the Black community saying he was less black because he was gay, so in making his book race-less it allows him to focus on one issue. Baldwin has other books about race, but this is not that despite there being obvious parallels and notes on oppression. I honestly did not expect that when picking up this book and made the assumption that it would have at least some commentary on Black Americans. You could definitely choose to read it with that lens in mind, but I do not believe that was what was intended.
I also think Baldwin provided a great, honest depiction of love. It depicts the tragedy, the messiness, the heartbreak, and the overall complexity of love. And of falling in love with people who cannot fully give you themselves and the lies they share to make themselves feel more comfortable in their own bodies. The things people tell you to fit into their lie, their made up version of themselves so they don’t have to deal with the shame of accepting who they truly are. But in doing so, it only causes harm to not only others, but themselves. David hurts everyone around him, hurting himself in the end.
camjones1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
polarshark997's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
5.0
I am not sure now, in spite of everything, that it ever really meant more than that to me.
perhaps they thought that I was grieving for her. And I may have been, but if that is so, then I am grieving still.
"love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?"
I stared at absurd Paris, which was as cluttered now, under the scalding sun, as the landscape of my heart.
I simply wondered about the dead because their days had ended and I did not know how I would get through mine.
"Everything bad will happen--one of these days."
"You don't have a home until you leave it and then, when you have left it, you never can go back...It is one of those songs that somebody somewhere will always be singing."
..."And what would happen," I asked, idly, "if I shut my ears?"
I loved her as much as ever and I still did not know how much that was.
"and I watched you--and you never said anything---and you looked at me with such eyes, as though you did not see me."
"It is cruel to have made me want to live only to make my death more bloody."
"And you will have no idea of the life there, dripping and bursting and beautiful and terrible, as you have no idea of my life now."
But I felt that it was my heart which was broken. Something had broken in me to make me so cold and so perfectly still and far away.
"Do you know how you feel? Do you feel? What do you feel?"
One day I'll weep for this. One of these days I'll start to cry.
It seemed to happen all at once--I suppose that only means that it had been happening for a long time.
"but where are you? You've gone away somewhere and I can't find you."
She tried to smile; my heart turned over.
All the words I wanted to say closed my throat like weeds, and stopped my mouth.
"What's the good of an American who isn't happy? Happiness was all we had."
perhaps they thought that I was grieving for her. And I may have been, but if that is so, then I am grieving still.
"love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?"
I stared at absurd Paris, which was as cluttered now, under the scalding sun, as the landscape of my heart.
I simply wondered about the dead because their days had ended and I did not know how I would get through mine.
"Everything bad will happen--one of these days."
"You don't have a home until you leave it and then, when you have left it, you never can go back...It is one of those songs that somebody somewhere will always be singing."
..."And what would happen," I asked, idly, "if I shut my ears?"
I loved her as much as ever and I still did not know how much that was.
"and I watched you--and you never said anything---and you looked at me with such eyes, as though you did not see me."
"It is cruel to have made me want to live only to make my death more bloody."
"And you will have no idea of the life there, dripping and bursting and beautiful and terrible, as you have no idea of my life now."
But I felt that it was my heart which was broken. Something had broken in me to make me so cold and so perfectly still and far away.
"Do you know how you feel? Do you feel? What do you feel?"
One day I'll weep for this. One of these days I'll start to cry.
It seemed to happen all at once--I suppose that only means that it had been happening for a long time.
"but where are you? You've gone away somewhere and I can't find you."
She tried to smile; my heart turned over.
All the words I wanted to say closed my throat like weeds, and stopped my mouth.
"What's the good of an American who isn't happy? Happiness was all we had."
reintje69's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75